Florida's Governor, Ron DeSantis, revealed on Monday in Tampa that Florida has become the pioneering state in amending its State Plan for the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. This amendment prohibits Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) benefits from being used on non-essential or luxury purchases.
Announced at Feeding Tampa Bay and outlined in an official statement from the Governor's Office, this move signifies a new chapter in Florida's approach to tightening the use of taxpayer-funded public assistance programs.
Prohibited Purchases
Under the revised plan, EBT cards — which distribute TCA benefits — are now restricted from purchasing certain items and services:
- Tobacco, nicotine, and vaping products
- Drugs and intoxicants
- Pornography
- Video games, entertainment tickets, theme park admissions, and entertainment subscriptions
- Tattoos, spa services, tanning, and other luxury services
- Fortune-telling and psychic services
DeSantis was explicit in listing these during the press conference: "No tobacco or vaping products with EBT cards and TANF benefits. No drugs or intoxicants. No adult material. No video games, entertainment tickets, or theme park subscriptions. No tattoos, no tanning beds, no psychic services."
What Remains Unchanged for Families
The newly imposed restrictions will not decrease the monthly benefit amount for eligible families or impact their eligibility for the program. On average, a household receiving TCA in Florida gets about $250 per month, which will still be available for essential needs like food, clothing, housing, and utilities.
Interim Secretary of the Department of Children and Families (DCF), Kate Williams, emphasized: "These changes will not affect a family's eligibility for temporary cash assistance or the amount they receive." She clarified that the program’s flexibility remains for essentials: "A caregiver can still use the assistance at a convenience store to purchase groceries. But taxpayer dollars shouldn't be used to buy tobacco or vaping products."
The Governor's Justification: Combating Fraud and Encouraging Self-Reliance
DeSantis framed the measure around two goals: addressing fraud and steering assistance towards self-sufficiency, rather than budget savings. "The main reason for doing this is that it will make it matter more. It will make it more likely that people can stand on their own," he asserted.
He also highlighted system abuse: "Obviously, some of these cards are simply fraud. They're gaming the system. They aren't truly needy. They're scammers." His vision was encapsulated in one statement: "The strength of our economy and our society isn't measured by how many people we can put on EBT cards. It's measured by how many we can free from needing an EBT card."
Implementation of the New Policy
The TANF State Plan amendment is in the works and will be submitted to the Trump administration for federal approval, which DeSantis expects to be swift: "We've worked with the Trump administration folks. This is something they welcome."
The rollout will occur in phases, starting with SNAP-authorized retailers. Williams noted that the state brings prior experience from the Healthy SNAP program launched in April, which already limits food stamps' use for sodas, energy drinks, and sweets.
Background: A Continued Trend
This measure fits into a consistent pattern of restrictions under DeSantis's administration. Earlier this year, Florida banned the purchase of certain foods with food stamps, and in March, the state Senate passed a law tightening checks for public assistance applicants.
Nationally, the Trump administration pushed for similar restrictions in 23 states, although a federal judge blocked those changes in five states in June. That decision did not affect Florida, partly because TANF offers states more flexibility than SNAP to set their own rules.
"Public assistance needs to be intentional and temporary, and it should be connected to a path forward," summarized Adrienne Johnston, president of CareerSource Florida.
Understanding Florida's New Public Assistance Rules
What are the new restrictions on EBT card purchases in Florida?
Under the new rules, EBT cards cannot be used to buy tobacco, nicotine, vaping products, drugs, intoxicants, pornography, video games, entertainment tickets, theme park admissions, luxury services like tattoos and spas, and psychic services.
Will the monthly benefit amount change for families under the new policy?
No, the monthly benefit amount for eligible families will remain the same, averaging about $250 per month for basic needs like food, clothing, housing, and utilities.
How will the new restrictions be implemented?
The implementation will be phased in, beginning with SNAP-authorized retailers. The state will leverage experience from the Healthy SNAP program, which already restricts certain purchases.